Sleep is something we all need, but 1 in 3 adults do not get enough. Getting less than the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night can increase your risk of certain health conditions, like obesity. In fact, sleep and weight loss research show that getting the proper amount of quality sleep is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your weight and maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI).
The sleep and weight loss relationship
Sleep and weight loss are closely connected, and here’s why: People who consistently get less than 6 hours of sleep at night have higher glucose (blood sugar) and insulin levels, which increases the risk of weight gain. How? Insulin is a hormone that regulates the levels of glucose in the blood by helping the body’s cells absorb it. When the cells absorb too much glucose, the body converts it into fat.
Missing out on restorative sleep can also cause the body to produce higher levels of the hunger hormones leptin and ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone that increases appetite and therefore plays a role in body weight. Leptin is a hormone that typically suppresses the appetite. However, if too much of it builds up in your blood, you may develop a resistance to it. When this happens, the leptin in your body may be unable to properly suppress your appetite, causing you to feel hungry more often and therefore gain weight.
Not getting enough high-quality sleep also increases your stress levels, which can make it more difficult to control your appetite. Sleep deprivation increases your body’s production of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol triggers the reward center in your brain, which increases your risk of craving unhealthy, calorically dense foods.
The combination of excess cortisol and ghrelin in your body means you’re more likely to eat more food than you typically would in order to feel satisfied. Lack of sleep can also leave you reaching for sugary, fatty, or salty foods and drinks that contain no significant nutrients but are high in calories.
While getting enough quality sleep each night won’t solve all your weight issues, it will give your body a head start. For many, weight loss can be achieved through a combination of getting plenty of sleep, following a healthy diet, and participating in daily physical activities.
Safe, effective weight loss procedures
If you’ve tried getting more sleep, dieting, intermittent fasting, exercising, or even diet pills, and nothing’s worked, you may be ready for weight loss surgery. You can achieve successful weight loss with a safe, effective weight loss procedure at Beltre Bariatrics, such as:
- Sleeve gastrectomy
A type of bariatric surgery that makes the stomach significantly smaller. - Gastric bypass
A technique that divides the stomach into a small upper pouch and a much larger lower pouch. - Gastric band
A laparoscopic adjustable band, or inflatable silicone device, is placed around the top portion of the stomach to help you feel fuller with less food. - Biliopancreatic diversion (BDP)
A procedure that removes a part of the stomach to restrict how much food it can hold. It also diverts the gastrointestinal (GI) tract beyond some of the small intestine, so fewer calories are absorbed.
Call Beltre Bariatrics at 407-863-7108 to find out which weight loss procedure is right for you.
